Adjustable beam light



March 1949- E. DE LA PARRA 2,463,361

ADJUSTABLE BEAM LIGHT Filed Nov. 9, 1945 3 She ts-Sheet 1 :Ze lafzz rra March 1, 1949. E. c. DE LA PARRA ADJUSTABLE BEAM LIGHT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1945 V 2 w z b X 0 m i K 6 d m 5 wxxxiwi/ 6 0 a 6 Z z w 6 5 3 9 5} 5 5 7 5 I I 1 a I I I I I 5 4! 6 5 w 6 I. 1/ K E. C. DE LA PARRA ADJUSTABLE BEAM LIGHT March I, 1949.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 9, 1945 hm o v. e R $3 W m M v 1 r we M I l 5 .N- e N \MM Mn 1 x Q R w wm f mm R F, m M n mu NN Patented Mar. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE BEAM LIGHT Application November 9, 1945, Serial No. 627,550 In Mexico October 8, 1945 7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to vehicle headlights.

An object of this invention is to provide a headlight structure embodying a casing having a lens and a light bulb with means between the lens and the light bulb for regulating the projection of light rays.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved headlight which is formed with a pair of selectively movable shields whereby certain of the light rays may be cut off so as to regulate the projection of the rays.

A further object of this invention is to provide a headlight which includes means for projecting the light rays forwardly, and also means for projecting the light rays laterally so as to illuminate the side of the road.

A further object of this invention is to provide a headlight embodying one or more light ray deflecting members movably mounted in the casing which are selectively adjustable by remotely disposed means connected to the deflecting members.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a headlight constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a detail front elevation of the device,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken vertically through the device,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 56 of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 'l---! of Figure 4,

Figure 8 is an exploded fragmentary side elevation of one of the deflectors and guide therefor,

designates generally a casing which includes a forward casing member it, an intermediate casing member ii and a rear casing or reflector member 8. The forward casing 16 includes a frusto-ccnical body i 9 having the smaller end thereof foremost. which is formed with a forward annular flange 2D and a rear annular flange 2|.

An outer lens 22 is disposed against the flange 23 being secured against the flange 20 by means of a ring-shaped channeled clamping member which is split at its lower portion and formed with a pair of ears 2d secured together by fastening means 25. The flange 20 and the outer margin of the lens 22 are seated in the channel formed by the ring 23 so that when the latter is in applied position the lens 22 will be removably secured to the forward end of the forward housing it. nated as 26, is disposed inwardly of the lens 22 .and comprises a disc-shaped plate 21 which is inwardly or rearwardly projecting lugs 32 formed with elongated slots 33. The inner surface of the forward housing member It has secured thereto inwardly offset bars 34 through which fastening members 35 extend for adjustably supporting the lens 26 within the housing f6.

A cushioning ring member 36 is secured to the forward side of the bezel 3| extending radially outwardly therefrom and engaging against the inner surface of the housing I6, so as to firmly seal the lens 26 relative to the housing I6. As shown in Figure 10 the lens structure 25 includes a non-transparent lower portion 3.! of substantially semi-circular configuration and a transparent upper portion 38 which may be suitably colored and in the present instance is colored green. The transparent upper portion 38 may also be of translucent material so as to deflect any light rays emanating from-the light source, whereas the direct light rays and reflected light rays reflected from the reflector l8 passing substantially axially through the lens member 21 are adapted to pass through the central lens 29. In order to provide for holding any upwardly directed light rays from passing throughth'e lower portion 3'5 of the lens 21 I have provided asubstantially semi-circularimetal plate 39, which;

An inner lens assembly, generally desig- 3 bears against the inner side or" the plate 21 and is seated within the bezel 3!.

The rear housing I8 includes a concavo convex reflecting member 40 which is formed with a marginal flange 4i and is also formed centrally thereof withaesleeve 42 "on theouterz convex side within which a light b'ulbsocket-43 is positioned being adjustably secured therein by means of a set screw 44. The inner concave parabolic sur-- face of the concave convex member 46 isformedwith a reflecting characteristic for reflecting the light rays from a light bulb'or'lightsource 45* The; intermediate" engaging in the socket 43. housing I! includes a frusto-conica1-bod'y46 having the larger end thereof foremost and provided with a flange 41 confronting therearfiangei l of the forward housing 16. The rear end of the body 46 is provided with an annular flange 48.

confronting the flange 2| and a split ring-shaped coupling memberor clamping ring 49 secures the two flanges4l and 48 together, so as to support the reflector member-I8 axially of the intermediate' housing member [1. A' disc-shaped plate ll'is positioned between the two housing members lean-d ll being positioned at its marginal portions between-the two flanges 2| and 41. The

ward side" thereof a substantially semi-circular deflectoror 'ray' cut oif'member-55 which is pivotally mounted-ona pivot. 56 extendingthrough the'defl'ector 55*an'd'through the plate 50. The

plate-'50 is formed with a-pair of stop members 51' and. 58': spaced circumferentially from each other about thermargin' of the: opening 52, so' as tovlirnit the turningor'swinging movement of the plate-55: The stop members 51 and 58.are'pro videdwith resilient cushioning members 55 and fill for-engagement with lugs:5l'and=62 respectively, when-the plate 55-is'turned in order to I eliminateany noise caused by turning of'the plate Normally the. plate- 55is disposed in inoperativesposition, as shown. in Figure 5, with the-lug; 62 engaging thev cushion member 5!] of the stop member 58. A segmental guide member 63 is: fixed. tothe rearend. portion of the housing lflandprovides a-.guide means for guiding thev plate 55 :as itis. adjusted. ahoutthe pivot member 56. In order to. provide. forthe adjustment of the. plate. 55.. relative. to. the. opening 52, I have provided a flexible operator 64 connected at one end-to. an offset pivot member 65 fixed to. the plate 551 The operator 64 may be extended to a suitableposition, such as to a point within the bodyof the vehi'cleormay be either manually or.

otherwiseactuated, so as to provide for the adjustment of the plate 55.

The plate 50 has slidably' mounted on the rear side thereof a second deflector plate 66. The plate 66 has a' straight upper edge fil parallel with thestraight edge 53 of the opening 52 and theplatefifi is'slidablymounted'in pairs of guide members and 69 which are" fixed to the rear sideof therplatefitl: A pair-of stop members are securedtothe'rear side-bf the plate 50 above the straight edge 53 and limit the upward movement of the plate 66. The plate 66 is vertically moved to either operative or inoperative position by means of a rocka-ble lever 'l I. The lever ll includes a substantially U-shaped member 12 having. a straight extension. 'I3extending from one leg thereof and the levenl'l is rockably mounted on a pivot member 14 secured to the plate 55. The plate 66, as shown in Figure 9, is formed with elongated slot 15 so that the plate may be vertically moved with rocking of the lever H. The opposite'leg of the U-shaped member i2 is formed with an elongated opening 16 within which a pin ll fixed to the plate 66 is adapted to loosely engage. The lever H is adapted to be rocked by endwise movement of a flexible operator 18 which may be in the form of Bowden wire, which is fixed, as at T9, at one end thereof to the lever ll and'extended to a remote position, such as to a point within the body of the vehicle. The operator 13 may be either manually, electrically or otherwise operated as may be desired.

In the use and operation of this headlight undernormal-driving conditions the headlight may be used with the .deflectors and 56 in an inoperative position. When it is desired to cut off any portion of the light rays on one side of the road, the deflector 55 may be rotated, such as to a position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 5. In this latter position the deflector 55 leaves fully a quarter of the lenses open for the passage of light rays therethrough. The intermediate housing member I! is provided in the side thereof with a transparent window 85, which is adapted to provide for the projection of light rays laterally of the headlight for lighting up theouter edge of or side of the road. In the event it is desired to deflect the light beams passing through the lenses these beams may be deflected by vertically-raising the Vertically movable defleetor 66. When the upper edge 6! of the deflector rises above the straight edge of the plate 55 the light rays passing outwardly and upwardly will be cut oil 'so that only the downwardlydirected light rays lighting up the road for a relatively short distance in front of the headlight will be projected through the lenses of the headlight. In order to provide for the proper positioning of the plate 50 with the deflectors mounted'thereon between the two housing members it and H, I have provided a pair of positioning pins 8|, which are carried by the flange 2i and which engage in openings 82 formed in the outer portion of the plate 55.

This light controls the rays of light with the help of a reflector which can be used in any size or form as the need requires. This result can be achieved by the interception of the light rays which in turn can be used according to the purpose for which the light is to be employ-ed as in the drawings of'this application. This light is obtained through an interception between the reflector and the lens through which the light has to pass, and the interceptor can be adjusted for anydistance, size, form orneed. This light can be made into all forms for any commercial uses and can be employed for ballrooms, theatres, landing flelds, interior lighting, street lamps or any other industries where a strong light is necessary, without ruining the sight of the employees.

The exact configuration illustrated is regarded as the optimum, but some of the desirable results inherent in this disclosure may be obtained by various slight modifications including some .departure from the exact configuration shown, and

it is therefore requested that the scope of the invention should be regarded as limited only by the terms of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a light having a casing, a light source and a lens; deflector means in the casing comprising a disc-shaped plate disposed transversely across said casing and having a substantially semi-circular opening in the upper portion thereof, the diameter of said opening extending horizontally across said casing, a deflector plate having a straight upper edge, means movably supporting said deflector plate from said first plate, and means for moving said deflector plate to thereby vary the size of said opening.

2. In a light having a casing, a light source and a lens; deflector means in the casing comprising a disc-shaped plate disposed transversely across said casing and having a substantially semi-circular opening in the upper portion thereof, the diameter of said opening extending horizontally across said casing, a semi-circular deflector disposed on one said of said plate, means pivotally mounting said deflector on said plate, and means for adjusting said deflector to thereby vary the size of said opening.

3. In a light having a casing, a light source and a lens; deflector means in the casing comprising a disc-shaped plate disposed transversely across said casing and having a substantially semi-circular opening in the upper portion thereof, the diameter of said opening extending horizontally across said casing, a vertically movable deflector at one side of said plate, means slidably mounting said deflector on said plate, a deflector operating lever pivotally carried by said plate and connected to said deflector, and operating means connected to said lever.

4. In a light having a casing, a light source and a lens; deflector means in the casing comprising a disc-shaped plate disposed transversely across said casing and having a substantially semi-circular opening in the upper portion thereof, the diameter of said opening extending horizontally across said casing, a semi-circular deflector disposed on one side of said plate, means pivotally mounting said deflector on said plate, means for adjusting said deflector to thereby vary the size of said opening, a vertically movable deflector, means slidably mounting said latter deflector, a rock lever pivotally carried by said plate and connected to said latter deflector, and operating means for said rock lever.

5. A light comprising a pair of abutting casing members, a reflector closing the rear end of the other of said members, a disc interposed between said members having a semi-circular opening in the upper portion thereof, movable deflector means carried by said disc, and means for moving said deflector means to thereby vary the size of said opening.

6. In a headlight having a casing, a light source and a lens; deflector means in the casing comprising a disc-shaped plate disposed transversely across said casing and having a substantially semi-circular opening in the upper portion thereof, the diameter of said opening extending horizontally across said casing, a semi-circular deflector distending horizontally across said casing, a semi-circular deflector disposed on one side of said plate, means pivotally mounting said deflector on said plate, means for adjusting said deflector to thereby vary the size of said opening, a vertically movable deflector, means slidably mounting said latter deflector, a rock lever pivotally carried by said plate and connected to said latter deflector, operating means for said rock lever, and a magnifying lens between said first lens and said deflectors.

7. In a headlight having a casing, a light source and a lens; deflector means in the casing comprising a. disc-shaped plate disposed transversely across said casing and having a substantially semi-circular opening in the upper portion thereof, the diameter of said opening extending horizontally across said casing, a semi-circular deflector disposed on one side of said plate, means pivotally mounting said deflector on said plate, means for adjusting said deflector to thereby vary the size of said opening, a vertically movable deflector, means slidably mounting said latter deflector, a rock lever pivotally carried by said plate and connected to said latter deflector, operating means for said rock lever, a magnifying lens between said first lens and said deflectors and means slidably supporting said magnifying lens in said casing.

ERNESTO CARDONA DE LA PARRA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,195,361 Kelso Aug. 22, 1916 1,625,660 Homyer et al Apr. 19, 1927 2,015,935 Herring Oct. 1, 1935 2,076,240 Levy Apr. 6, 1937 

